Apparatus for reconditioning drycleaning fluid



a United States Patent 1 2,511,292 6/1950 Myers... 210/443x Leblnflmlndhfla 2,586,508 2/1952 1316mm 210/437 1211 pP 613,879 2,711,828 6/1955 Webbetal... 210/172x [221 Filed m ,1 3,022,894 2/1962 14611611 210/452 51 Patented Nov-24,1970 3,037,634 6/1962 M1113 210/499x [73] Asslsnee TheCflbomdum Company 3,382,985 5/1968 Mllehl zoo/499x s E York 2,224,409 12/1940 Schleyer 210/489X Incorporation e 3,295,689 1/1967 Arvanitakis 68/18.1X asslanmems 3,419,151 12/1968 Smith 6161.... 210/460 2,467,503 4/1949 Scriven 55/377X [54] APPARATUSFOR CONDITIONING 2,751,041 6 1956 Cr0pley.... 55/381x DRYCLEANING FLUID 2,753,952 7/1956 Engel 55/377 10 Cla1ms,4Drawing Figs. FOREIGN PATENTS 346,576 21937 1161, 210/443 52 U.S.Cl. 210/167 1 210/258, 210/323, 210/438 OTHER REFERENCES [51] lnt.Cl. ..B0ld 29/14 German Printed Application C6581, Clarke, published [50] Field ofSearch...L..... 68/18.1;- Nov., 1955, 1 sht. dwg., 2 pp. spec.

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,372,119 3/1921 Congleton 210/253 2,044,096 6/1936 Moran 210/171 2,274,352 2/1942 Wood.... 210/437 4/1943 Busi 68/18 Primary Examiner-Reuben Friedman Assistant Examiner- Frank A. Spear, Jr. Attorney-Hill, Sherman, Meroni, Gross & Simpson ABSTRACT: Contaminated drycleaning fluid is pumped from the dryeleaning machine into a lint bag of a lint trap, from which the relatively lint-free fluid is delivered to filtering means, and the cleaned fluid is conveyed from the filtering means for reuse in the machine.

Patented Nov. 24, 1970 Sheet' Z M2 I INVIZNIOA.

' m' 8%; AHUANEKS APPARATUS FOR RECONDITIQNING DRYCLEANING FLUID This invention relates to the art of drycleaning, and more particularly concerns new and improved apparatus for recon- I ditioning contaminated drycleaning fluid as it comes from the machine after use, wherebythe fluidmay be recirculated to "the drycleaning machine for reuse;

In automatic recirculating drycleaning systems in which contaminated drycleaning fluid is periodically or continuously drawn off from the drycleaning machine, reconditioned through a filtering apparatus and then recirculated to the from the machine through my'lint trap before delivering the contaminated fluid for filtration by the replaceable cartridge filters in the conditioning system.

Accordingly, it is'an important object of the present invention to provide apparatus for reconditioning drycleaning fluid in which the contaminated fluid is drawn from the drycleaning machine and pumped into a lint trap before being delivered to the filtering means in the system.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved lint trap for drycleaning fluid reconditioning systems.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel filter trap construction which can be easily andquickly cleaned.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel filter bag for drycleaning fluid lint traps.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 isa fragmentary schematic illustration of a drycleaning fluid conditioning system embodying principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded isometric view of the lint trap of the present invention and associated structure in the assembly;

' a FIG. 3 is a diametric vertical sectional detail view through 'the lint trap; and

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the lint trap bag. Drycleaning fluidwhichhas become contaminated in use in a drycleaning machine 5 (FIG. 1) of any preferred type such as of the basket or washwh'eel variety, is circulated through a purifying or reconditioning cycle which is desirably continuous while the machine is in operation. This includes, according tothe present invention, withdrawing the contaminated fluid from the machines through a conduit 7 in which is mounted a pump 8 for this purpose which drives the fluid onward through the conduit into a lint trap 9. Within a chamber defined by means including a housing 10 of the lint trap is a lint bag 11 into which the conduit 7 discharges the contaminated fluid under pump pressure, and from which bag lint-free fluid permeates under the pump pressure. From the lint trap chamber the lint-free fluid is led by a duct 12 and delivered through respective branches 13 into respective filter towers 14 in a suitable battery of such towers and in which suitable replaceable filter cartridges are housed for the purpose. F rom each of the filters 14 clarified drycleaning fluid passes into a return line 15 communicating with the respective filters to return the fluid for reuse in the machine 5. If desired, of course, the clarified fluid may be passed .through color removing, sweetening, distilling and like means before actual reuse in the drycleaning machine. For. draining the lint trap tower 9 and the filter towers 14 during servicing, a drain conduit 17 is suitably connected therewith through valved respective branches 18.

In a convenient construction, the lint trap 9 comprises a towerlike construction in which the housing casing 10 is an open-topped cylindrical container having a bottom wall 19 (FIG. 3)provided with an upper end annular outwardly flaring lip 20 receptive of a gasket 21 clamped thereagainst by a complementary outwardlyflaring annular lip 22 on the lower end of a domed cap 23, a split clamping ring 24 engaging the lips 20 and 22 and being releasably secured in clamping arrangement by a suitable retainer 25 (FIG. 2). At the top of its dome, the cap 23 has a manually operable vent valve 27 by which air is evacuated from the unit when the system is filled at the commencement of operation, and through which relief air is permitted to enter the chamber within the housing 10 when it is desired to drain the same for servicing.

Mounting of the lint trap tower 9 for operation may be effectedon a suitable frame 28 to which is secured a mounting plate 29 by means of suitable bolts 30 and to which is secured as by means of bolts 32 a base portion 33 of a mounting bracket to which the housing casing 10 is secured as by means of a clamping strap 34 secured to the base bracket 33 as by means of screws or bolts 35.

Connection of the conduit 7 from the pump 8 to the lint trap is through a tubular inlet column 37 suitably coupled to the conduit 7 and extending upwardly centrally through a complementary aperture 38 in the bottom wall 19, a fluidtight coupling sleeve 39 being secured to the bottom wall and the hollow inlet column 37. Within the casing 10 the inlet column 37 extends upwardly to a height above the upper end of the casing 10 but below the dome of the cap 23, and has a progressive series of discharge apertures 40 opening therefrom into the chamber space withinthe casing and into the lint bag 11 which is mounted coaxially about the inlet column to'receive all of the contaminated cleaning fluid delivered from the inlet.

In order'to facilitate mounting and removal of the lint bag 11, it is constructed in the form of a generally cylindrical tube which may conveniently be made from a panel bent into a tube and secured along a longitudinal seam 41 (FIGS. 3 and 4), with a'bottom walldisk 42 secured as by a seam 43 to the lower end of the tube. To receive the tubular inlet column 37, the bottom wall 42 has a central opening 44 encompassed by a turned over sheath 45 within which is a ring-shaped gripping.

spring 46 which in the fully mounted position of the bag effects a resilient grip about the base of the inlet column, and more particularlyan upstanding tubularflange 47 on the coupling sleeve 39.

In order, to support the removable fluid-permeable lint bag 11 in an expanded receiving position within the lint trap chamber, a complementary cylindrical perforated basket 48 is provided which is of sufficiently smaller diameter than the inside diameter of the vertical portion of the housing casing 10 to provide an annular flow space between the housing wall and the basket wall into which the substantially lint free fluid passes. For relatively free flow of fluid through the basket, it is provided with numerous uniformly spaced relatively large aggregate flow area apertures 49 which are of a size to enable the desired free flow without permitting blowing through of the permeable material of the lint bag under pressure. On its lower end, the basket 48 has a bottom wall 50 which may be a perforated or imperforated plate secured thereto and provided with a central opening to receive the flange 47 therethrough and about which the spring sheath 45 seats in substantial sealing relation. In addition, a reinforcing and supporting base plate 51 desirably engages under the bottom wall 50 and has a downturned annular central flange 52 engaging a shoulder 53 on the fitting 39. This plate 51 servesas a thrust plate under the thrust (if a cover and clamping plate 54 which is clampingly driven against the upper edge of the basket 48 by means such as a removable wing nut 55 threaded onto an upper end externally threaded section 57 on the inlet column projecting upwardly,,through a central opening 58in the cover plate. Retention of the lint bag 11 against slipping downwardly within the basket 48 is effected by retroverted folding of a flange extension 59 of the upper portion of the bag over the upper end of the basket and clamping the flange against the upper end of the basket by means of the cover and clamping plate 54. Through this arrangement, mounting of the bag 11 in the basket 48 and removal of the bag for cleaning it of trapped lint are easily effected.

Effluent passes into the bottom of the container 10, past the bottom of the basket 48 which may have an annular series of escape notches 60in its lower end or may be maintained above the bottom wall 19 by the base plate 51, as preferred. Thence the effluent moves through an outlet 61 of suitable flow area coupled to the duct 12 for delivery to the filter means of the system.

1 have found that a monofilament synthetic fiber fabric which is resistant to the drycleaning solvent such as perchlorethylene is especially suitable for the lint bag 11. Nylon, rayon, polypropylene and saran fabrics have been used, but nylon has been found preferable because of the economics in purchasing, availability and performance. The material should be of relatively wide open mesh since it has been found that where too close a weave is employed, is not effective. With a wider open weave there is a desirable precoating effect which is ascertainable when servicing the lint trap, wherein it is found that whereas a large percentage of the trapped lint falls to the bottom of the bag after pump pressure has been discontinued, there is still a precoat of lint on the inner surface of the bag and providing a filtering barrier across the openings in the fabric mesh.

After considerable experimentation, l have found that the best results in a drycleaning fluid conditioning system operating at normal pump pressure of about 20 pounds per square inch, a woven monofilament synthetic fiber fabric having a weave on the order of 120-125 to 45-350 having a range of respective mesh openings on the order of .005 inch to .014 inch has been found especially suitable, while the median, namely a weave of 60-250 and a mesh opening of .010 has given optimum results at the indicated pressure. Within the mentioned parameters, it has been found that cleanout of the lint trap is desirable when pressures of 45 to 50 p.s.i. are ex perienced with a pressure drop of about to p.s.i. The present lint trap has proved to be highly satisfactory in practree.

It will be understood that variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of this invention.

lclaim: 1. ln apparatus of the character described, a lint trap comprising:

a housing; means for delivering contaminated fluid comprising a hollow perforated column extending upwardly in said housing; a perforated bag-supporting basket in said housing about said column;

a fluid-permeable lint bag having a bottom with an opening therein to receive said column therethrough to fit the bag about said column within said basket;

said basket having an upper end and said bag having an upper flanged end overlapping said upper end of the basket;

a closure plate engaging clampingly against said bag flange onto the upper end of said basket; and

means attached to said column and maintaining said plate removably in bag-closing and clamping position over the end of said basket.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which an upper end portion of the column is threaded, and said means attached to said column comprising a wing nut threaded onto said threaded portion ofthe column.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, said bag bottom carrying in permanently attached relation a contractile annular spring dimensioned to effect a resilient grip about the base portion of said column within said basket.

4.- Apparatus according to claim 1, having a fitting in the bottom of said housing supporting said basket.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, said fitting comprising a fluidtight coupling sleeve secured to the housing and through which said column extends.

6. ln apparatus of the character described, a lint trap comprising:

a housing comprising a vertically standing casing having a bottom wall and open at the top, with a removable closure secured to the top of the casing;

a lint bag basket in spaced relation within said casing and accessible through said top upon removal of said closure;

a fluid-permeable lint bag mounted in said basket;

means for delivering contaminated fluid into the interior of said bag;

means for discharging from the housing substantially lintfree fluid after it leaves said bag and basket;

means for removably clamping an upper portion of the bag to the upper portion of said basket;

said means for delivering fluid comprising a perforated vertical column extending upwardly within said casing;

shoulder means adjacent to the lower portion of said column;

said basket having a bottom with an aperture through which the column extends and said bottom supported on said shoulder means; and

said bag having a bottom resting on the bottom of the basket and having an aperture therein through which the column extends with means about said bag bottom aperture effecting resilient gripping engagement about said column in respect to a marginal portion of said bag bottom about the aperture therein.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, comprising means on the upper portion of said column thrusting said clamping means toward said bag and basket and toward said shoulder means.

8. ln apparatus for treating used drycleaning fluid for reuse:

a conduit leading from a drycleaning machine;

a pump operative to withdraw from the machine drycleaning fluid contaminated in use therein and for driving the contaminated fluid onwardly through said conduit;

a lint trap including means defining a chamber having therein a removable fluid-permeable lint bag into which said conduit discharges the contaminated fluid under pump pressure and from which substantially lint-free fluid permeates under said pump pressure;

a delivery duct leading the substantially lint-free fluid under said pump pressure from the lint trap chamber;

filter means receiving the fluid from said duct;

a return line communicating with said filter means to return the fluid from said filter means for reuse in the machine;

said conduit discharging through the bottom of said lint bag by way of an upwardly extending discharge column;

a drain conduit; and

a valve-controlled branch from said drain conduit communicating with the discharge column.

9. ln apparatus of the character described, a lint trap comprising:

a housing;

means for delivery contaminated fluid comprising a hollow column extending upwardly in said housing;

a perforated bag-supporting basket in said housing about said column;

a fluid-permeable lint bag having a bottom with an opening therein to receive said column therethrough to fit the bag about said column within said basket;

said column discharging into said bag;

said basket having an upper end and said bag having an upper flanged end overlapping said upper end of the basket;

a closure plate engaging clampingly against said bag flange onto the upper end of said basket; and

means attached to said column and maintaining said plate removably in bag-closing and clamping position over the end of said basket.

10. In apparatus of the character described, a lint trap comprising:

a housing comprising a vertically standing casing having a bottom wall and open at the top, with a removable closure secured to the top ofthe casing;

a lint bag basket in spaced relation within said casing and accessible through said top upon removal of said closure;

a fluid-permeable lint bag mounted in said basket;

means for delivery contaminated fluid into the interior of said bag comprising a hollow'vertical column extending upwardly within said casing;

' means for discharging from the housing substantially lint the. column extends and said bottom supported on said shoulder means; and

said bag having a bottom resting on the bottom of the basket and having an aperture therein through which the column extends with means about said bag bottom aperture ef fecting resilient gripping engagement about said column in respect to a marginal portion of said bag bottom about the aperture therein. 

